Cooking Ideas

Relish the Avo Dog: 3 Ideas for Avocado-Inspired Hot Dog Toppings

About The Author:Pati Jinich, TV host of Pati’s Mexican Table, cookbook author, and ambassador for Avocados from Mexico

On Memorial Day, celebrating with cookouts is as American as the hot dogs we grill themselves. But while many consider hot dogs an American classic, they’ve long been entrenched in daily Mexican cuisine, too! Would you believe taco stands and hot dog stands pop up right next to one another all over Mexico?

It turns out that hot dogs and our Mexican ingredients merge beautifully. Our creative takes on Mexican dogs aren’t a forced fad or gimmick related to the fusion food trend. Not at all! The hot dog is something Mexicans eat every day — and have for more than a century! Just as Mexicans adapted Italian pasta to create Mexican-flavored dishes like pasta seca and French bread to make Mexican sandwiches like tortas, we put a genuine Mexican spin on hot dogs, giving them our sazón and topping them with all sorts of things like pico de gallo, spiced up salsas, charred jalapeños, and, of course, diced or mashed avocado.

Think avocados and hot dogs don’t mix? Think again! You’ve got to try these amazing options for relishes that you’ll really relish! But before you put those dogs on the grill, watch this quick video on how to pick out perfect avocados by holding them in the palm of your hand and giving them a gentle squeeze.

Start with a jar of store-bought pickle relish and stir in chopped white onion, diced serrano or jalapeño peppers, and diced avocado. Need to brush up on your slicing and dicing skills? Here’s another quick video on how to dice an avocado perfect for preparing this recipe. Bingo — amped-up flavor and a Mexican spin on your classic dill pickle relish.

These Mexican combos take your hot dog beyond standard. After all, gourmet dogs have long included a Chicago-style version, New York-style, and other regional favorites. Add these Mexican twists, incorporating nutritious avocados from Mexico, to your repertoire.

You can have even more fun by offering condiment dishes filled with crumbled queso fresco, grilled corn, or chicharrón (fried pork skin). Avocados From Mexico offers other recipes for avo dogs: Check out the Manhattan-style recipe for the Mid-Town Mex Dog and Mexi-Dog Rollups, made with avocado and refried beans!

Not very likely, but should you find yourself with some avocado left over, here’s a really simple video tip on how to preserve half of an avocado by squeezing some lemon juice on it, wrapping it in plastic wrap and placing it in the refrigerator.